Building relationships and saving thyroids: Dr. Aaron Rockoff
SAVE YOUR THYROID with Jennifer Holkem: Episode #82
Coming up in this episode:
“We do our own ultrasounds. It is the most invaluable part of our practice. I can't tell you how many times — probably a month — I'll get an ultrasound report and it'll say something. I'll do my ultrasound. It'll be pretty different. A lot of times you'll see microcalcifications which are a very big deal and really increase your risk of it being thyroid cancer. And then when I do my ultrasound, it's a partially spongiform nodule. There's posterior enhancement that's causing these, you know, horizontal white, bright lines, and they're calling it microcalcifications. And it actually changes it from being very suspicious to being very low suspicion. And so, you know, having the probe in your hand and being able to move it…ultrasound is much more than a picture, it's a movie. If you can't hold it,and you can't kind of change your view, you really can't say enough about it. So being the ultrasound tech and the radiologist at that point was really helpful.” — Dr. Aaron Rockoff
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What is this podcast and blog all about?
To my subscribers, welcome back! If you’re new, welcome to Save Your Thyroid, a podcast and blog all about thyroid nodules. My name is Jennifer Holkem, and I advocate for fellow patients suffering with this very common condition. Thyroid nodules impact 70% of adults in their lifetime, and the standard of care is surgical removal of half or all of the gland. But in recent years, safe and effective non-surgical treatment options have become available.
In this podcast and blog, I sit down with patients and physicians to discuss life with thyroid nodules, treatment options, and how to save the thyroid whenever possible.
Key Takeaways:
Building relationships with patients is a crucial aspect of being a doctor.
Ultrasound plays a vital role in radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for thyroid nodules.
Proper patient preparation and anesthesia are essential for a successful RFA procedure.
Post-procedure care, including icing and avoiding certain medications, is important for recovery.
Dr. Rockoff welcomes both local and out-of-town patients for follow-up care and monitoring. Continuous improvement and learning are essential in performing RFA for thyroid nodules.
Large nodules may require multiple RFA sessions for optimal results.
A healthy lifestyle can contribute to overall well-being, but there is limited data on specific lifestyle factors that affect thyroid nodules.
Patient involvement in their care and collaboration among healthcare professionals are crucial for better outcomes.
RFA may be considered for select cases of thyroid cancer.
Dr. Priya Shah is Dr. Rockoff’s associate at Endocrinology Medical Group of Orange County. Watch her podcast interview here.
Dr. Priya Shah is Dr. Rockoff’s associate at Endocrinology Medical Group of Orange County. Watch her podcast interview here.
The goal of this podcast and blog
I seek to provide data, resources, and expert opinions on the topic of thyroid nodules, and make it accessible to patients. When I was first looking for thermal ablation treatment, everything that I read was physician-facing material. It was very hard for me to understand. This material is meant to help patients understand what's going on in their thyroid gland and what an important gland it is. If you can keep your thyroid intact, that's going to help you live a longer, healthier life, and preserve your quality of life. Thanks for reading this far today! — Jen
Connect with Dr. Aaron Rockoff
👉Dr. Rockoff’s practice: Endocrinology Medical Group of Orange County
👉Follow Endocrinology Medical Group of Orange County on Facebook
👉Follow Dr. Aaron Rockoff on LinkedIn
Disclaimer: None of the statements made in this or any other video by "Its me Jen again" should be considered medical advice.
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